Empaako safeguarding boss calls for community self-contributions in Empaako safeguarding

Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali speaking

The head of the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali has appealed to people from the Empaako communities to embrace community self-contributions through making tangible self-help contributions in order to sustainably safeguard their intangible cultural heritage threatened with extinction like the Empaako naming system.

Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali who is also the board chairperson of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) a cultural based NGO with its headquarters based in Fort Portal – Western Uganda also encouraged people from the Empaako communities to safeguard their Runyoro – Rutooro language.

“We need to safeguard our Runyoro – Rutooro language through learning, speaking and documenting it because it’s our identity.  If our culture especially our Runyoro – Rutooro language is safeguarded especially by young people then we can be sure, it will be sustainably safeguarded for generations” Said Araali Kumaraki yesterday (17^th December, 2018) while speaking at the official opening of the one week residential workshop on capacity building at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal.

Stephen Rwagweri speaking

The one week residential capacity building workshop at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal – Uganda conducted by Engabu Za Tooro and supported by UNESCO aims at building the capacity of Empaako bearers to document their own heritage.

The workshop which has attracted over 30 participants from Empaako communities of Banyoro, Batooro, Batagwenda, Batuku, Basongora and Banyabindiand officials from the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development will take place from 16^th – 21^st December, 2018.

While speaking at the same event, the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro Stephen RwagweriAtwoki also encouraged people from Empaako communities to embrace community self-contributions in safeguarding their own intangible cultural heritage like Empaako naming system.

Hajat Hajara Nalubega speaking

The senior culture officer of the Uganda ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development Hajat. Hajara Nalubega who is attending the same meeting indicated that government of Uganda is determined to formulate appropriate policies aimed at promoting and safeguarding Uganda’s cultural traditions like the Empaako naming system.

During the recent UNESCO global meeting held from 26^th November to 1^st December 2018 in Mauritius, UNESCO experts recommended tangible community self-contributions from Empaako communities to sustainably safeguard Empaako safeguarding and revitalization.

Engabu Za Tooro is currently implementing a two year UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

Banner of the workshop

In the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization project, UNESCO is contributing 80 percent and Empaako community is supposed to contribute 20 percent. Engabu Za Tooro will soon officially launch a 20 percent “Tutemu Engaro” community self-help contributions to ensure proper sustainability of Empaako safeguarding and revitalization in Uganda.